EWN reports that Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has stepped in to mediate the standoff between artists and creatives on the one hand and the National Arts Council (NAC) on the other hand.

Following a public outcry, Mkhwebane and Deputy Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka met with Department of Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa and members of the council last week. The two-month-long dispute between creatives, the council and the department is over the disbursement of R300 million from the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme and more specifically where that money has actually gone. Artists from across the country have been staging a sit-in at the NAC’s office in Johannesburg since the beginning of March over alleged maladministration of funds. They claim that the relief funds allocated for artists through the stimulus programme has disappeared. Mkhwebane indicated: “We informed them that we were prepared to do an alternative resolution session, which normally would result in a settlement agreement, especially on the issues of payments.” The artists are expected to make a written submission to the Public Protector’s office before another dispute resolution session is held.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Veronica Mokhoali at EWN

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